Burglar trap



Jan. 12, 1937. P. A. FIEBIGER 2,067,662

BURGLAR TRAP Filed Sept. 11, 1935 I 2' Sheets-Sheet l llllll lh llllllHlu lNVENTOR .38 37 Paul 1 1.1 iebzzqer W165 Mag/M ATTORNEY Jan. 12, 1937. P. A. FIEBIGER 2,067,662

BURGLAR TRAP Filed Sept. 11, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H un Zia

INVENTOR Paul A.Fiehiger Patented Jan. 1 2, 1937 UNITED STATES This invention refers to burgler traps and is ntended to prevent the escape of burglars with With this end in View, the invention consists by switches distributed at strategic points throughout the establishment. One of the objects of the provide a gate which closes quickly and locks one of the switches.

Another object is to provide the gate and its locking mechanism in a jamb forming with it a practically self-contained unit, readily applicablein combination with existing doors.

A further object is to. provide a complete gate M accompanying drawings, in which 2% Fig. 1 is an elevational View of a door jamb with a single gate embodying the principles of the invention, 'the gate being shown in an open position; Fig. 2 is a similar view with the gate in a %closed and locked position;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view of the j-amb and its locking mechanism and part of the gate drawn at a larger scale and in a closed position;

Fig. 4 is a similar fragmentary sectional view showing the locking mechanism in an unlocked position just prior to reopening the gate;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail elevational view of the gate supporting means in the top of the Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the plane of line 6-6 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view along the plane of 'line l -1 in Fig. 3;

5* Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a modified construction of a door jamb with a double gate in a closed position;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, of the locking mechanism of the 50 double gate where its separated lower portions meet;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view along the plane of line |0!0 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view 55 along the plane of line IIH in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view along the plane of line 12-42 in Fig. 9.

like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views and the following specifications.

In Figs. 1 to 4 are shown elevational and. fragmentary sectional views of a gate of the single folding type. In these figures is clearly shown a jamb of the usual U channel conhas at its top an L-shaped extension to which is fastened a latch bar 3| having a latch hook 32 at its end. In the closed position the hook 32 engages a projecting bolt 33 of a solenoid 34 25 mounted upon the jamb. 35 and 36 are wires of the groove 28 of the saddle 29.

48 is a weight of substantially square cross-section guided within the other upright 200 of the lamb 20. 4| are ratchet teeth at one side of the 35 The weight is suspended by a cable 42 travelling over a roller 43 in the top of the jamb and then connected laterally with the L- shaped extension 30 at the top of end piece 26.

the latch hook 32 engages the bolt 33 of the solenoid, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1.

44 is a vertically disposed latch bar pivotally 45 supported at 45 within a housing 46 at one side of the upright member 200. Its lower portion is member 200 through an. opening 5|. The outward travel of the bar 44 is limited by a strap 52 55 in such a way that the bar can pivot to permit its tilting to an extent sufiicient for the hook 58 to be entirely within the housing 46.

At the bottom of the upright c is a bolt 53 slidably held thereto by brackets 54. Its bottom end projects into the groove 28 of saddle 23 and.

there is adapted to engage the ratchet teeth 38 of the bar 31. right angles at 56.

Near the bottom of the latch bar 44 and the top 55 of the bolt- 53 is a lock 51 consisting of the usual cylinder 58 operable by a so-called Yale key in the usual manner. A center portion of the lock is flattened at 59 for the purpose specifled hereafter.

The operation of the device is as follows:

If an establishment has been held up and it is desired to prevent the escape of a burglar with his loot, it is only necessary to close any of the switches which may be placed at convenient points, as for instance, behind a counter, operable by ones foot, if so preferre This closes the electric circuit and magnetizes thefsolenoid 34 which is of a conventional type and which upon magnetization draws up the bolt 33. This disengages the latch hook 3 2. permitted to fall downwardly within the member 2 8c of the jamb and by reason of its weight draws along the folded gate until its end piece 25 comes to a stop at member 28c, thus closing the door or gate opening. This position is clearly shown in Fig. 3. The vertical latch bar in this position engages the ratchet teeth 4| and the bottom bolt 53 has dropped by gravity into the teeth 38 of the horizontal bar 31 of the gate. In this posi- Its top end 55 is bent over at tion therefore the gate is securely locked at the side by virtue of the ratchet teeth in the weight 40 which prevent the weight from being forced upwardly, and at its bottom by the bolt 53 also engaging the ratchet teeth 38 which prevent a return movement of the gate.

An audible signal may be employed in connection with the gate which may be sounded upon closing of the circuit.

The gate cannotbe opened until and unless the lock is turned. To do so, it is necessary to insert the key and turn the cylinder and its flattened portion 59, which is so disposed in relation to latch bar 44 and bolt 53 that when turned it engagesthe lower end of the bar 44 turning it about its pivot 45 whereby the hook becomes'disen gaged from the teeth 4| of the weight 40. Simultaneously the flattened portion 59 engages the top end of the bolt 53 and lifts its bottom out of the teeth 38. This position is clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. The gate can then be opened by hand and returned to the open position to be held there by bolt 33 of the solenoid after the opening of the switch.

The pointed and tapered end of the bottom ratchet bar 31 serves not only the purpose of engaging easily the bolt 53, but also" tends to keep the groove 28 of the saddle 2'3 clean and in workable condition.

In Fig. 8 is shown a double folding gate in a closed position. All parts which are identical in operation and construction to corresponding parts of the single gate have been given the same ref- The weight 40 is then erence numbers and need not further be explained here. The principal difference is in the disposition of the locks. Three individual locks must be used, one each for the vertical latch bars 44 and one for the bottom bolt 53. The end pieces 26 of the double gate come to a stop at a cross bar 68 in the groove 28 of other respects the operation of the double gate is the same as the single.

It is understood that various changes of form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resortedto without departing from the prineiples or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as new, is:

l, A burglar trap including a gate, a bolt to keep the gate in an open position, a counterweight connected to the top of the gate tending to close the same, electric means to with- V draw the said bolt to permit the gate to close,

a latch bar for engaging the said weight and a latch belt for 'gmg the lower end of the gate when the gateisfina closed position, the said bar and latch bolt being adapted to prevent its opening, and a lock having means to disengage the said latch bar from the said weight and the said latch bolt from the gate to permit its reopening.

2. A burglar trap comprising a unitary structure including a jamb, a folding gate within the jamb, means to keep the gate in an open position, a counter-weight adapted to close the gate, electric means to release the gate from an open position and permit its closing, a latch bar at the side of the jamb one end of the gate when closed, a latch bolt at the bottom of the jamb adapted to engage thesaddle 29. In all adapted to engage the lower end of the gate when' clos ed, and a lock having means to disengage the said latch bar and latch bolt from the said gate to permit its reopening.

3. In a device of a folding gate within the jamb, a counter-weight having ratchet teeth connected to the gate and adapted to close the same, and a latch bar at the side of the teeth in the said weight for locking purposes, when the gate is closed.

4. A burglar trap vcomprising a'unitary' structure including a jamb formed of hollow uprights and a top cross-member and a bottom saddle, a folding gate within the jamb, means in the top cross-member to keep the gate in an open position, a counter-weight within one of the said uprights adapted'to close the gate and having ratchet teeth, electric means to release the gate from an open position and permit its closing, a latch bar within the same upright adapted to engage the teeth of said weight when the gate is closed, a latch bolt within the same upright and near its bottom adapted to engage the lower part of the gate when closed for locking purposes, and means to disengage the said latch bar from the said weight and the said bolt from the gate to permit its reopening. i

PAUL A. FIEBIGER.

the kind described, a jamb,

jamb and adapted to engage the 

